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Airbus projects global freighter fleet to grow 46% by 2045
Airbus forecasts that the global fleet of dedicated freighter aircraft will grow by 46% between 2026 and 2045, increasing from 2,360 to 3,460 aircraft. According to the company’s 2026 Cargo Global Market Forecast, the industry will require 2,670 new freighter units to meet demand, driven by both fleet replacement and market growth.
The projected demand includes 1,140 single-aisle aircraft, 860 mid-size widebodies, and 670 large widebody aircraft. Of the total requirement, 970 are expected to be new-builds, while 1,700 will be passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions.
Global air cargo traffic is expected to grow at an annual rate of 3.2%, rising from 280 billion freight ton kilometers (FTK) in 2025 to 530 billion FTK by 2045. The Asia-Pacific region is projected to remain the leader in international air cargo traffic, with the largest growth occurring on routes to North America at 3.8% annually.
Regional demand for the 2,670 freighter deliveries will be concentrated in North America (925 aircraft) and Asia-Pacific (850 aircraft), which together represent two-thirds of global demand. Other regional requirements include 515 aircraft for Europe and CIS, 165 for Latin America, 125 for the Middle East, and 90 for Africa.
Entities
Airbus · Asia-Pacific · Europe · Francois Cabaret · North America
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Demand in Europe and CIS will reach 515 aircraft. www.indiastrategic.in · cargoforwarder.eu
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Of the 2,670 required freighters, 1,700 will be converted from passenger aircraft. www.indiastrategic.in
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Air cargo traffic is expected to rise from 280 billion freight ton kilometers in 2025 to 530 billion FTK in 2045. cargoforwarder.eu
- [● 3 SOURCES] The global freighter fleet is projected to grow from 2,360 in 2026 to 3,460 by 2045. www.indiastrategic.in · www.it-boltwise.de · cargoforwarder.eu
- [● 2 SOURCES] Routes from Asia-Pacific to North America are expected to have an annual growth rate of 3.8%. www.indiastrategic.in · cargoforwarder.eu
- [● 3 SOURCES] A total of 2,670 freighter units will be required to meet demand. www.indiastrategic.in · www.it-boltwise.de · cargoforwarder.eu
- [● 2 SOURCES] North America and Asia-Pacific will account for two-thirds of total global freighter demand. www.indiastrategic.in · cargoforwarder.eu
- [● 3 SOURCES] Global air cargo traffic is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 3.2%. www.indiastrategic.in · www.it-boltwise.de · cargoforwarder.eu